Category Information
This award recognises organisations that have created a stimulating and supportive work environment and a real commitment to the welfare of its employees, resulting in high staff satisfaction levels and a well-motivated, ambitious and integrated workforce.
Judges will be looking for:
- Leadership and management structure
- A clear human resources policy that creates an engaging and supportive workplace
- Company values and evidence of how staff are aligned to these
- Employee benefits
- Staff retention
- Training and development
- Evidence of a robust recruitment process
For any queries regarding your entry, please get in touch with the Chamber team at info@somersetbusinessawards.org.uk.
How do I enter?
All you need to do is complete the online entry form, making sure that you understand the criteria for the category/ies that you wish to enter.
- Choose your category
- Enter a statement of up to 800 words explaining why your business merits an award
- Highlight up to six key points selling your company to the judges
- Attach up to five pieces of evidence to support your application – attachments can be up to a maximum of 2MB each.
- Attach the company logo
Does my business qualify?
All businesses entering the awards must be based within the district council administrative boundaries of Sedgemoor, South Somerset, Mendip and Somerset West and Taunton. Business can also enter if they are based within the following North Somerset Council and Bath and North East Somerset postcodes:
BS21, 22, 23, 24, 40, 48 and 49
The business should have its head office within the defined eligible area set out above. If this is not the case, the entry MUST demonstrate that the enterprise has local autonomy over business planning, marketing, HR and budget within the eligible areas listed above.
If you are unsure if you qualify, please get in touch.
“The Somerset Business Awards was such an amazing event, we felt very privileged to attend. Just being there and being a finalist was a big achievement but to win was something we could of only dreamt off. It lifted morale within the team and I felt so proud lifting the award.”
Award Judges
Stephen Wray
Stephen Wray (pictured far left) is a partner in the Commercial Dispute Resolution team at Stephens Scown. He acts for businesses and individuals dealing with a variety of commercial and corporate disputes, including partnership disputes, business owner disputes and exit strategies, and disputes against businesses. Stephen is a director at Taunton East Development Trust Ltd and is head of Stephens Scown’s Taunton office.
Matt Huggett
Matt Huggett (pictured above, right) is a partner in the Employment team at Stephens Scown, with extensive experience in employment matters. His work includes employee dismissals and settlement agreements, employment tribunal claims, disciplinary and grievance procedures, and restructuring and redundances. Having qualified through the CILEX route, Matt is a former president of CILEX and remains a non-executive director of the organisation.
Sponsored By
Stephens Scown
Stephens Scown is a leading South West law firm with a reputation for doing things differently. Both employee-owned and B Corp™ certified, Stephens Scown does notable work for notable clients across a range of business, personal, and specialist sectors, providing consistent, award-winning levels of client service, all while balancing people, planet and profit.
With offices in Taunton, Exeter, Truro, and soon to be Dorset, Stephens Scown’s services span family law, wills and inheritance, property, employment, immigration and dispute resolution for individuals. For businesses, it offers advice on regulatory compliance, employment, HR and immigration advice, health and safety, investments, mergers and acquisitions, and various commercial matters, including commercial disputes and contracts.
Delivering crafted legal advice for those who expect more, contact Stephens Scown to find out more.
Our 2026 Sponsors
